Ceiling Fan Brace Bracket With Press-Fit Screw Alignment
Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of electrical boxes to ceiling fan braces is challenging due to difficulties in aligning screws with threaded holes, especially in low-light conditions, and the presence of screws reduces wiring space and creates abrasive surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling fan brace bracket assembly with a channel and lip design, featuring press-fit screws and nuts that securely attach the electrical box, reducing the number of protruding screws and abrasive surfaces, and a raised ridge for increased rigidity, facilitating easier installation and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional brackets with multiple protruding screws are used to attach electrical boxes to ceiling fan braces, then the electrical box can be securely attached, but the number of abrasive surfaces increases and wiring space decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional protruding screw configuration from the bracket design. Instead of having screws extend outward from the bracket, the electrical box is attached using a flush-mounted screw system where screws are contained within the electrical box housing, eliminating the harmful protruding elements while maintaining secure attachment.
2Illumination intensity
If users install brackets from below the ceiling, then they have better visibility, but they cannot see the holes for screw alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates high-contrast visual markers around the screw holes on the bracket. These markers create strong visual contrast that makes the holes easily visible and identifiable during installation, allowing users to work from below the ceiling with adequate visibility without needing to crawl into the attic.
3Ease of operation
If traditional alignment methods are used, then screws can be inserted, but alignment requires rotation and precise positioning that is difficult in low-light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the bracket with pre-marked alignment indicators and positioned screw holes that align directly with corresponding holes in the electrical box without requiring rotation or complex positioning. The alignment features are prepared in advance during manufacturing, eliminating the need for difficult real-time alignment adjustments during installation.
Data Source
AI summary
A ceiling fan brace bracket assembly with a bracket, at least two holes, at least one first screw, and at least one second screw. The bracket has a channel that opens toward a bottom of the bracket and at least one lip that extends along the channel. The channel is sized and shaped to extend around a ceiling fan brace. The at least two holes extend through the at least one lip, and each of the at least two holes is configured to align with a corresponding screw hole in an electrical box. The at least one first screw is a press-fit screw and is configured to extend downward through a first hole of the at least two holes. The at least one second screw is configured to extend upward through a second hole of the at least two holes.